Measuring Happiness

Two weeks ago, I wrote about residents of Baguio being the wealthiest outside Metro Manila, and many were curious about the clincher question about measuring happiness.

News reports say that the Philippines is the second happiest country in Southeast Asia based on the World Happiness Index of 2024. This sounds very promising but we are actually ranked 53rd in the world, which is not so bad considering that our country still belongs to the top half among 143 countries that were included in the ranking.

Finland, Denmark and Iceland are Top 3 happiest countries in the world, while Singapore is ranked first in Asia, and 30th globally. Taking the last three spots are Lesotho, Lebanon and Afghanistan.

But what is this Happiness Index all about? Does it really measure how happy the people are in countries that were ranked?

The World Happiness Index is based on the World Happiness Report which is published annually. It reviews the state of happiness in the world today. The World Happiness Report is an annual publication by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. It ranks countries based on various factors related to happiness and well-being. 

The factors typically considered include GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. The report aims to provide policymakers with valuable insights into what drives well-being and how to improve it. It also helps individuals understand the factors that contribute to happiness in different societies around the world.

Let’s look at each of the factors that make up the measure of happiness. The first one is GDP per capita. This is the national income divided by its population. It is often used to imply how well (or not) the standard of living is in that particular country. The higher per capita GDP, the better the standard of living. Finland registers as one of the countries with the highest per capita GDP.

Next, Social support, as measured in the World Happiness Report, refers to the perceived availability of family and friends that an individual can rely on during times of need. It is one of the factors used to assess the overall happiness and well-being of a country’s population. Countries with strong social support systems typically rank higher in the World Happiness Index because individuals feel a sense of belonging and connection to others, which contributes to their overall happiness and well-being.

Healthy life expectancy is an important component of the World Happiness Index as it reflects the quality of life and well-being experienced by individuals within a country. It measures the average number of years that a person can expect to live in good health, without suffering from major illnesses or disabilities. Countries with higher healthy life expectancy scores tend to rank higher in the World Happiness Index because their citizens can enjoy longer periods of good health and well-being. Access to quality healthcare, preventive services, clean environment, and healthy lifestyle choices are among the factors that contribute to higher healthy life expectancy scores.

Freedom to make life choices is another key factor considered in the World Happiness Report. It reflects the degree to which individuals feel they have the autonomy and freedom to make decisions that affect their lives, such as their career, education, relationships, and personal pursuits.

Generosity, on the other hand, reflects the degree to which individuals within a society engage in charitable acts, exhibit kindness towards others, and are willing to help those in need. Countries with higher levels of generosity tend to rank higher in the World Happiness Index because acts of kindness and cooperation contribute to a sense of social connection and well-being among citizens. Additionally, societies that prioritize giving and helping others often experience reciprocal benefits in terms of trust, social capital, and overall societal happiness.

Perceptions of corruption are indeed included in the World Happiness Report as one of the factors influencing the World Happiness Index. Corruption can have significant negative impacts on society, including undermining trust in institutions, hindering economic development, and eroding social cohesion. Countries with lower levels of perceived corruption tend to rank higher in the World Happiness Index because citizens feel more secure, trust their government more, and believe that public resources are being used effectively and fairly. Conversely, countries with higher levels of perceived corruption often experience lower levels of happiness and well-being due to the negative effects of corruption on trust, social capital, and overall societal health.

Looking at all these factors and applying it roughly to our city of Baguio. It may be safe to assume that Baguio could be the happiest city in the Philippines given that Baguio already ranks first on GDP per capita. For other factors like social support, Baguio is a relatively small city where people have six degrees of separation or even much less. With these connections, support in times of crises could be easily gotten from friends and acquaintances.

Life expectancy, freedom to make choices and generosity may not be significantly different from other cities or provinces in the Philippines, so this factor may not be considered that much in this case.

Perception on corruption may be one thing that the city of Baguio may make it different from the rest of the country. It may be the only place in the Philippines that is not essentially ruled by a dynasty. Maybe that is why corruption is not as widespread in the city than in other places in the country.

Bottomline is, no index can fully measure the happiness of a country, a city, a barangay, a family or one person. Happiness, as many say, comes from within. Happiness, after all, is a complex and subjective state of being that encompasses feelings of joy, contentment, fulfillment, and satisfaction with one’s life. It involves experiencing positive emotions and a sense of well-being that arises from various sources, including personal relationships, achievements, experiences, and most especially, inner peace.